Four young Kenyan men who went missing just before the Christmas holidays have been found alive, their family members and rights groups said.
Kenya is witnessing a wave of disappearances, with the state-funded human rights organization saying that more than 80 people have been kidnapped in the past six months.
Kidnappings generally target government critics and are widely believed to be the work of security agents, although the government has not acknowledged responsibility.
These protests began in June last year during anti-tax protests across the country, but increased in December, when images of the president in a coffin created by artificial intelligence were widely circulated.
Among those released on Monday was 24-year-old Billy Mwangi, a student in Embu in the central Mount Kenya region.
Local MP Gitonga Mukungi told reporters that Mr Mwangi “was flogged and beaten while in a dark room. He was psychologically traumatised”.
His father said he was unable to discuss what he went through and was taken to hospital.
He told the Daily Nation news website: “He came home around 8am. He was walking alone, and his mother and I saw him. We thank everyone who prayed and supported him.”
Last week, Mr Mwangi's father broke down in court as he demanded his son's release.
A relative of 22-year-old Peter Mutiti, who was kidnapped in the capital on December 21, told the BBC that he had been reunited with family but was disoriented and unable to talk about the ordeal.
Amnesty International Kenya welcomed the release and urged “the state to release all abductees and hold those responsible accountable.”
Two weeks ago, police denied responsibility for kidnappings carried out by plainclothes men across the country, some of which were captured on surveillance cameras.
Monday Police issued an update They admitted to releasing the kidnappers, saying that they were already in contact with a person who presented himself to the police station.
Police said investigations are ongoing into all cases of missing persons.
Human rights groups and other Kenyans have linked the kidnappings to a shadowy intelligence and counter-terrorism unit of the security forces.
Amid the public uproar, President William Ruto said last month: “We will stop kidnappings so that our youth can live in peace and have discipline,” while urging parents to take care of their children.
So far, no one has been released since he spoke on December 27, with activists planning protests on Monday to push the government to act.
Two other young men, Ronnie Kiplangat and Bernard Cavoli, were also released, their families told local media.
Kavoli, a content creator, was arrested on the outskirts of the city in December, while Kiplangat is the brother of satirical cartoonist Kibet Paul, who remains missing.
Kibet Bull is known for his silhouette cartoon memes criticizing the president. Two others were seized after images of the president in a coffin created by artificial intelligence were published.
Police said Mr Kavoli was assisting them in their investigations after presenting himself at the police station at Moi Bridge in western Kenya.
A statement said they would contact the other three “and their families and provide them with all necessary support as we seek further information to assist in the ongoing investigations.”
The Law Society of Kenya has filed a lawsuit against the state, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of seven individuals kidnapped last month, including those who have now been released.
The situation continues to raise fear across the country, with parents concerned for the safety of their children and activists vowing to keep up the pressure until the fate of all missing people is determined.
